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Homeless man charged in Dracut beating

By Lisa Redmond, lredmond@lowellsun.com

Updated:
02/25/2014 05:51:20 PM EST

LOWELL -- A 46-year-old homeless man is being held on $250,000 cash bail, accused of beating a Dracut man so badly the victim had to be rushed to a Boston hospital to be treated for skull fractures and inter-cranial bleeding.

Christopher Gagnon Sr. covered his face with a shirt as he pleaded not guilty in Lowell District Court Tuesday to charges of armed assault to murder, armed assault in a dwelling, breaking and entering in the daytime, and larceny of a motor vehicle.

Judge Elizabeth Cremens ordered Gagnon held on the high bail in the new case and revoked his bail -- holding him without bail -- on a pending Essex county case.

In court documents, Dracut police say that at 3:30 p.m. Monday, they responded to a 911 call from 303 Sladen St. for an unknown medical. When emergency personnel arrived, they found the 58-year-old male victim covered in blood from severe head trauma.

The victim was transported to Beth Israel Hospital in Boston to be treated for multiple skull fractures, inter-cranial injuries, multi-facial lacerations and a right forearm fracture. The cause of his injuries was blunt-force trauma.

A large amount of blood and blood spatter was found inside the home, along with a flat, bar-type hand tool with brown stains consistent with blood. The victim's 1999 Ford explorer was missing.

There had been two previous burglaries at that location. In speaking to the victim's ex-wife, who lives in Lowell, she indicated that she sometimes brings home homeless people and one of those was Gagnon.

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During the investigation, police found the victim's vehicle one street away from where Gagnon was living. Police interviewed witnesses who said Gagnon allegedly admitting to committing a burglary and had gold chains and $150 in cash.

When police questioned Gagnon he denied being in Dracut but did know the victim. Blood was found on Gagnon's boots, pants and hands had blood on them. The victim's vehicle also had blood on the steering wheel and shifter.

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